The International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) rejected the Moldovan Ministry of the Interior’s request to put former Minister of the Interior Gheorghe Papuc on the international wanted list. Papuc was sentenced to four years in jail in the April 7 case. After the judgment was passed, he went missing. Interpol argued this is a case that is political in character. The announcement was made by Minister of the Interior Oleg Balan, quoted by IPN.

According to the official, in such a situation the law enforcement bodies can look for Gheorghe Papuc only on Moldova’s territory. It is not within the competence of the police to arrest those who are in the courtroom when there is no definitive conviction decision.

Another person found guilty in the April 7 case – former policeman Ion Perju – who was accused of the death of Valeriu Boboc, left the courtroom shortly before the court gave its verdict, sentencing him to ten years behind bars.

“The police cannot arrest a person in the courtroom as this will represent abuse. The person can be arrested when he/she is put on the wanted list and there is a definitive court decision obliging the Ministry of the Interior and the police to arrest this person. As Ion Perju wasn’t present in the hall when the final decision was pronounced, he could not be arrested,” said Oleg Balan, noting that Ion Perju will be put on the national wanted list when the Ministry receives the copy of the court’s judgment.